PUBLIC FORUM.

Specific plan

Re "Saving Main Street" (Our Opinions, Feb. 26):

The city doesn't need to develop a brand new vision for Ventura Boulevard. It's had one since the early 1990s, commonly known as the Ventura Boulevard Specific Plan. And, yes, that's what could use some updating as opposed to vaguely referring to a "20-year-old growth plan" in the editorial.

The Specific Plan is a series of five community-based land-use laws (Cahuenga Pass to Woodland Hills), which says what goes where and why, along with mitigating traffic impacts on the boulevard. Although it is time to consider opening up the plan to address current residential needs that must be done with guidelines and limitations. Otherwise, with City Hall bent on in-fill development, special interests will finally get what they couldn't achieve 20 years ago -- the right to build what they want on Ventura Boulevard. Traffic and residents be dammed.

-- ELLEN VUKOVICH

Sherman Oaks

Spiritual roots

Re "Switching religions, ditching church on rise" (Feb. 26):

The article stated that the United States is in danger for the first time of becoming a minority Protestant nation. It said that 51 percent of adults call themselves Protestants compared with nearly two-thirds in the 1980s.

Hmm ... what have we seen in the last 20 years? An increase in teen pregnancies, abortions, murder, crimes against children, school violence, etc., etc. Could there be a correlation between the abandonment of our Protestant spiritual roots and the frightening trend we see society plunging headlong into? I also disagree with the last statement of that article. We are not the stronger for it.

-- ESTELA LUIZZI

Glendale

Rainfall

The Feb. 26 weather section of the Daily New stated the "Month to Date" rainfall at 1.64 inches. On Feb. 23, I put a large bucket in my yard to measure the forthcoming rain. Measured the rain at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. For the 24-hour period it was 1.75 inches. Wonder where the weather service measures its rainfall?

The sewer charge on the DWP billing uses the period November through January to arrive at the city sewer charge. The less rainfall, the higher the charge. I have always wondered why the rainfall has anything to with people taking showers, washing, doing laundry or using the bathroom, which all use the sewer. Most water usage is for watering lawns, which does not use the sewer.

-- JOSEPH A. McMILLIN

West Hills

Written in stone

Re "Perk power" (Our Opinions, Feb. 20):

We all know that once they get their hands on a perk, no matter how stupid it may be, it's written in stone. The breast pump episode should be stopped, that is the job for the pediatrician, not the DWP.

Since they probably won't stop this outlandish nonsense, what class are they going to give to the men? Oh no, not that one. Just tell me we don't have to pay for the instructor.

-- MARILYN J. KINDER

Sun Valley

O'Reilly

Re "O'Reilly's rant" (Your Opinions, Feb. 26):

It is obvious to me and anyone who watches or listens to Bill O'Reilly regularly that Howard Barr does not.

As an example, O'Reilly is spearheading a nonpartisan bill to expand veteran benefits. A suggestion to Barr and others, research the facts before you make wild and undocumented accusations and comments in a public forum.

-- ERIC OLSON

Chatsworth

Evidence

Re "Waterboarding" (Your Opinions, Feb. 27):

David M. Galfond, there was ample evidence gathered, without waterboarding, that bin Laden would strike the U.S., passed to the incoming Bush administration by the outgoing Clinton people.

That information was roundly ignored.

-- STEVEN ROBERT WOLLENBERG

Los Angeles

The truth

Re "UTLA elections" (Your Opinions, Feb. 27):

Do you mean that you just came to the conclusion that people don't read the newspapers anymore? Hey, if you want a version of the "truth" or someone's interpretation of what the truth might be, by all means stop at a news rack and buy one. If you're looking for the truth, don't bother. Most people have figured that out already.

-- MICHAEL LEPTUCH

Pacoima